Article banding means



Feb. 8, "1966 F. A. LYON ARTICLE BANDING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledSept. 21, 1962 FLOYD A. LYON 9 mm WM Fe. 1966 F. A. LYON 3,233,385

ARTICLE BANDING MEANS Filed Sept. 21, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 5 (Eu 2 HG 4 1 FIG 5 T/ U\H FEED IO GRMP CLAMP A FEED B CLAM HG 8 CLAMP CLOSED CCLAMIP L I 6 HEAT INVENTOR. HEATER D FLOYD A. LYON cm 7/ KNHFE A E fa1M4 Feb. 8, 1966 IF. A. LYON 3,233,385

ARTICLE BANDING MEANS Filed Sept. 21, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.FLOYD A. LYON Feb. 8, 1966 F. A. LYON 3,233,335

ARTICLE BANDING MEANS Filed Sept. 21, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGIO FIGIZINVENTQR. FLOYD A. LYON BYVQWWWW United States Patent 9 3,233,335ARTICLE BANDING MEANS Floyd A. Lyon, Brookville, N.Y., assignor to HalmInstrument Company, Incorporated, Glen Head,

Filed Sept. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 225,253 7 Claims. (Cl. ss-aas Thisinvention relates to tape banding means and more particularly to suchmeans having a rotatable arm adapted to rotate around the articles to behanded and means to feed tape through said arm and around said articles.

A principal object of the invention is to provide new and improvedarticle banding means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved articletape banding means having a rotatable arm adapted to rotate around thearticle or articles to be banded and means to feed tape through said armand around said articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved articlebanding means having a rotatable arm adapted to rotate around thearticles to be banded and means to feed tape through said arm aroundsaid articles, means to seal said tape around said articles and means toout said tape.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved bandingmeans for plastic tape having automatic heat sealing and cutting means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means forhanding articles comprising a frame,

a platform for said articles said platform having a slot, an armrotatably mounted on said frame to rotate parallel to said slot, meansto feed tape along said arm and through said slot, a clamp connected tothe under side of said platform to receive the free end of said tape,heat sealing means adapted to seal said tape when wrapped around saidarticles by said arm, knife means adapted to cut said tape when sealed,and tape feeding means connected to grip said tape before cutting and tofeed the free end of said tape to said clamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved bandingmeans for pressure sensitive tape.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent in thefollowing specification and drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a broken perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURES 2 through 7 are schematic views illustrating the sequence ofoperation.

FIGURE 8 is a time sequence diagram.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective View of a modification of the invention, and

FIGURES 10-16 are schematic views of the operation of the modificationof FIGURE 9.

Generally referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a table 1 which acts asthe main frame for the apparatus. The package P is placed on the tableso that it is supported by the table 1 at one end and by the rotatableplatform 2 at the other end. The arm 3 which feeds tape T is adapted toswing around in counterclockwise direction passing the tape around thepackage through the slot formed between the end of the table and theplatform 2.

A heat sealing iron 4 is pivotally mounted on the underside of the tablefor the purpose of sealing the tape. A knife 5 is also pivotally mountedon the underside of the table for the purpose of cutting the tape afterit is sealed. A clamp 6 is similarly pivotally mounted on the undersideof the table and adapted to clamp the free end of the tape against aplate 6' on the underside of the table. A clam-shell type clamp 19, 11is mova-bly mounted on carriage 12 for the purpose of gripping the tapebe- "ice fore it is cut and then feeding the free end of the tape intothe clamp 6. All of these elements are cam driven by a series of cams onthe frame mounted cam shaft 14 which operates a series of crank armsmounted on the frame mounted crank shaft 15.

More specifically referring to FIGURE 1, the tape T is mounted on aspool or reel R which is rotatably mounted on a bracket 20 which isfixedly connected to the shaft 21 which is journaled to the frame memberF. The rotatable tape arm 3 is fixedly connected to shaft 21 near theother end thereof. The shaft 21 is driven by means of the chain 23 whichis connected to the sprocket 24, fixedly connected to shaft 21, and thesprocket 25 is fixedly connected to cam shaft 14.

The shaft 21 is hollow and the tape T is fed from the spool to thehollow shaft through the guide aperture 30 along arm 3, around the guideroller 31, along arm extension 3 and around guide roller 22 which is inthe plane of the slot '5 between the end of the table 1 and the platform2, which is suspendably mounted on the end of shaft 21, with suitablebearings so that it remains stationary.

The platform 2 is preferably made of a yielding light spring material sothat the package may be ejected against it. In other words, the platformmember 2 is adapted to yield so that the package may be pushed againstits sufiiciently so that the sealed band will ride from under thestationary plate 6' against which the heating iron strikes. The platformmay be eliminated and the article held solely by the table, if desired.

The arm 3 is steadied and guided by means of the idler gears 26, 27mounted on the shaft 28 which is connected to the arm 3. The idler gears26, 27 mesh with the idler gears 26, 27' which are mounted for freerotation on the shaft 21. Gear 27' is preferably pinned to frame F bypin G.

Assuming for the moment that the free end of the tape is clampedunderneath the package P then as the arm 3, 3 rotates counterclockwise,the tape will be drawn around the package P or bundle as indicated bythe dotted lines P. Note that as the shaft 21 rotates, the spool or reelR rotates with it.

Clamp 6 is pivotally mounted on shaft 9 which is connected to theunderside of the table 1 so that the clamp can grip the end of the tapeagainst the plate 6, mounted on the underside of the table 1. The clamp6 is operated .by the cam 6a mounted on cam shaft 14 by means of the camarm 6b mounted on the crank shaft 15 and connected to the clamp by meansof the link member 60.

The heater 4 is also pivotally mounted on shaft 9 on the underside ofthe table 1 and is operated by means of the cam 4a, crank arm 4b, andlink member 4c.

The knife 5 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 9 underneath the table 1 andis operated by means of the cam 5a, crank arm 5b, and connecting link50. Knife 5 is adapted to shear the tape against the clamp 6. All of thecam follower arms are suitably spring loaded in conventional manner. Ahot wire device may be used as the knife.

The clam-shell tape feeding clamp comprises the members 10 and 11 whichare adapted to open to 180. These members are mounted on the carriage 12which is slidably mounted on table rods 12, 12". The carriage 12 ismoved in and out by means of the cam 12a, crank arm 12b, the end ofwhich is connected by means of a pin and slot connection to the carriage12.

The tape feeding clamp members 10 and 11 are rotatably mounted onbracket 12d mounted on the carriage 12. and they are adapted to berotated from a full-open position of into contact with each other inorder to grip the tape T, by means of the gears 40 and 41 which meshtogether. The gear 41 also meshes with and rides along the long gear 42.The clamp 10, 11 is operated by means of the cam Illa, crank arm 1%, andconnecting links Title, lltld which is fixedly connected to the gear 42.The gear 42 has a considerable length to permit sliding contact with thegear 41.

The cam shaft 14 is driven by the continuously rotating motor M by meansof the belt 43 which drives the pulley 44 which is freely rotatable onthe shaft 14. The ulley 44 is connected by means of clutch 45 to theindexing disc 46 which is fixedly connected to the shaft 14. Theindexing disc 46 has an indexing projection 46:: which is pivotallymounted on the table 1. The stop 47 is connected by means of the member47a to a foot pedal 4-8 which is adapted to initiate each cycle.

In operation, the package P or bundle is first placed in positionmanually, or by other apparatus outside the scope of this invention, andthe foot pedal 48 is then pressed to release the apparatus for onecycle. All of the other cams are adjustably fixedly mounted on the shaft14 so that when the foot pedal 48 is pressed, the lock 47 will releasethe disc 4a to initiate the cycle. When the foot is removed from thepedal, the spring 47b will return the locking lever 47 so as to stop theapparatus in the index position. If desired, the reel R may be mounteddirectly on roller 29 at the end of arm 3.

FIGURES 2 through 7 show schematic representations of the sequence ofoperations, and FIGURE 8 shows a time sequence diagram represented bythe developed cam shapes.

In FIGURE 2, apparatus is in the index position, and the feed clamp 10,11 has gripped the tape and the tape has just been cut by the knife.Thereafter the feed clamp 14), 11 moves the free end of the tapeaccording to the graph B of FIGURE 7 to the in position where it isgripped by the clamp 6 according to the diagram C, FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 3 shows the feed clamp 10, 11 in the in position and the free endof the tape gripped by the clamp 6, against plate 6'.

Note that when the feed clamp is moving into the in position it ismoving against the arm travel. However, the spool is free to turn anddoes not place any appreciable load on the feed clamp movement in. Thearm 3 then travels around until it reaches the index position where itis stopped by means of the lock 46, 47.

FIGURE 4 shows the arm 3 rotating counterclockwise. Note that the feedclamp 10, 11 has been fully opened to 180 separation to permit themovement of the tape T.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show continued movement of the arm 3 in acounterclockwise direction.

FIGURE 7 shows the arm 3 approaching the index position. At this timethe feed clamp 10, 11 grips the tape, the heater 4 seals the tape aroundthe package and the knife 5 cuts the tape, as shown in time sequencediagram FIGURE 8. The heater 4, knife 5 and clamp 6 are then moved downinto the index position of FIG- URE 2. The package P is then ejected bypushing it against the yielding holding member 2 until the sealed tapeslips out from under the plate 6 against which the heating and cuttingtook place. The plate 6 is relatively thin. The tape T has been wrappedfairly tightly so that there will not be any appreciable slack in thesealed tape.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a modification of the invention for use withpressure sensitive tape T. In this modification the heating means iseliminated and the knifeclamp means are adapted 0 open 180". Also thefree end of the tape T is stuck directly on to the article by means ofthe clamp 50 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 51 and which isoperated by means of the linkage comprising the membcr 50a, cam followerarm 50b, and cam 500.

The knife 52 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 51' which is operated bythe linkage comprising the member 51a, cam follower arm 51!), and cam51. The tape feeding clamp 1 11 is mounted on the sliding bracket 12awhich is slid back and forth on the bars 12 and 12 in the same mannerwhich is previously described in connection with FIGURE 1. The clamp 10and 11 is operated by the gear 42 and the linkage comprising the memberItld, 19c, crank arm 10b and cam lite.

The bracket 12a is operated by means of the crank arm 12:! and cam 12:;in the same manner as previously described. The respective cams are cutto follow the sequence shown in FIGURES 10 through 16.

Holding means for the package P may be provided comprising a pair ofcurved spring members 54 and 55 which are adjustably mounted on theholder 2, for instance by spaced mounting holes on through 63. Ifdesired, the holding means may be mounted on the table 1 and theplatform 2 eliminated.

FIGURES 10 through 16 show the sequence of operations of the embodimentof FIGURE 9. In FIGURE 10 the arm 3 is in index position and the clamp10, 11 is about to move the tape T to the left under the package P asillustrated in FIGURE 11.

In FIGURE 12 the clamp or pressure applicator 50 comes up and clamps theend of the tape to the bottom edge of the package P. The clamp 5t} thenretracts as shown in FIGURE 13. Note that the knife 52 and clamp 56 openso as not to interfere with the passage of the tape T. Also in FIGURE 13the clamps 10, 11 have been moved sufiiciently far to the right so asnot to interfere with the passage of the tape.

FIGURE 14 shows the tape arm rotated almost fully counterclockwise tothe index position. The clamp 10, 11 has moved to the left sufficientlyto engage the tape as the clamp 10, 11 closes.

FIGURE 15 shows the clamp 10, 11 in closed position.

FIGURE 16 shows the knife 52 closing to sever the tape against the clamp59, which has been raised, with a scissor type action, which completesthe cycle.

The package is preferably placed slightly to the left of the knife sothat a short projecting portion of the tape may be used as a grip foreasily opening the package.

Various modifications will occur to those desiring to use the inventionfor instance, instead of a box or article, a bundle of envelopes orsmall articles may be banded together. For such use it may be desirableto add a compressing foot or feet for the purpose of compactIng thebundle.

I claim:

1. Means for banding articles comprising:

a frame, a table connected to said frame, a platform for said articles,said platform being yieldably mounted and spaced from said table therebyforming a slot,

an arm rotatably mounted on said frame to rotate parallel to said slot,

an extension on said arm extending over said slot,

means to feed tape along said arm and extension and through said slot,

a clamp connected to the underside of said table and adapted to receivethe free end of said tape,

heat sealing means mounted on the underside of said table and adapted toseal said tape when wrapped around said article by said arm,

knife means mounted on the underside of said table and adapted to outsaid tape when sealed, and

tape feeding means adapted to grip said tape before cutting and to feedsaid cut end to said clamp.

2. Means for banding articles comprising:

a table,

a platform for said articles, said platform and said table forming aslot,

an arm rotatably mounted on said frame to rotate parallel said slot,

an extension on said arm extending over said slot,

aasasss means to feed tape along said arm and extension and through saidslot,

a clamp connected to the underside of said table and adapted to receivethe free end of said tape,

heat sealing means mounted on the underside of said table and adapted toseal said tape when wrapped around said article by said arm,

knife means mounted on the underside of said table and adapted to outsaid tape when sealed,

tape feeding means adapted to grip said tape before cutting and to feedsaid cut end to said clamp, and

cam means connected to operate said ciamp, said heat seal means, saidknife, and said tape feed in predetermined sequence.

3. Means for handing articles comprising:

a frame, a table connected to said frame, a platform for said articles,said platform being oscillatably mounted and spaced from said table andforming a slot,

an arm rotatably mounted on said frame to rotate parallel to said slot,

an extension on said arm extending over said slot,

means to feed pressure sensitive tape along said arm and extension andthrough said slot around said articles,

a pressure applicator connected to the underside of said table andadapted to receive the free end of said tape,

cutting means mounted on said table and adapted to out said tape whensealed, and

tape feding means adapted to grip said tape before cutting and to feedsaid cut end to said clamp.

4. Means for banding articles comprising:

a table to hold said articles so that a portion of said articles extendspast the edge of a platform,

a frame adjacent said table,

an arm rotatably mounted on said frame to rotate parallel to said edge,

means to feed tape along said arm,

a clamp connected to the underside of said table and adapted to receivethe free end of said tape,

heat sealing means mounted on the underside of said table and adapted toseal said tape when wrapped around said article by said arm,

cutting means mounted on the underside of said table and adapted to outsaid tape when sealed, and

tape feeding means adapted to grip said tape before cutting and to feedsaid cut end to said clamp.

5. Means for banding articles comprising:

a table,

a frame,

a platform on said frame for said article, said platform and said tableforming a slot,

a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on said frame,

an arm mounted on said shaft at a angle,

an extension on said arm extending over said slot,

means to feed tape through mid shaft and along said arm and extensionand through said slot,

a clamp connected to the underside of said table and adapted to receivethe free end of said tape,

heat sealing means mounted on the underside of said table and adapted toseal said tape when wrapped round said article by said arm,

knife means mounted on the underside of said table and adapted to cutout said tape when sealed,

tape feeding means adapted to grip said tape before cutting and to feedsaid cut end to said clamp, and

cam means connected to operate said clamp, said heat seal means, saidknife, and said tape feed in predetermined sequence.

6. Means for handing articles comprising:

a frame,

a table connected to said frame,

an arm rotatably mounted on said frame to rotate parallel to the edge ofsaid table,

means to feed tape from said arm,

a clamp connected to the underside of said table and adapted to receivethe free end of said tape,

seaiing means mounted on the underside of said table and adapted to sealsaid tape when wrapped around said article by said arm,

means mounted on said table to out said tape when sealed,

and tape feeding means adapted to grip said tape before cutting and tofeed said cut end to said clamp.

7. Apparatus in claim 6 wherein said cutting means is spaced from saidarticle so as to provide an extending tab on said tape sealed article.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,768,489 10/1956Brown et a1 53-198 X 2,782,709 2/1957 French et a1 27 2,971,307 2/1961Lyon et al 53-198 3,000,151 9/1961 Winkler et a1 53-498 X 3,014,32212/1961 Polster 53198 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

. TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Examiner.

6. MEANS FOR BANDING ARTICLES COMPRISING: A FRAME, A TABLE CONNECTED TOSAID FRAME, AN ARM ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME TO ROTATE PARALLEL TOTHE EDGE OF SAID TABLE, MEANS TO FEED TAPE FROM SAID ARM, A CLAMPCONNECTED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TABLE AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE FREEEND OF SAID TAPE, SEALING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TABLEAND ADAPTED TO SEAL SAID TAPE WHEN WRAPPED AROUND SAID ARTICLE BY SAIDARM, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TABLE TO CUT SAID TAPE WHEN SEALED, AND TAPEFEEDING MEANS ADAPTED TO GRIP SAID TAPE BEFORE CUTTING AND TO FEED SAIDCUT END TO SAID CLAMP.